Israel Iran War Highlights: Israel, Hezbollah exchange fire; residents of over 20 towns in south Lebanon told to evacuate

Western nations have drafted contingency plans to evacuate citizens from Lebanon after a dramatic escalation in the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese armed movement Hezbollah, coupled with Iran’s missile attack on Israel on Tuesday.

No country has launched a large-scale military evacuation yet, though some are chartering aircraft as Beirut airport stays open.

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The United States has ordered dozens of troops deployed to Cyprus to help prepare for scenarios such as an evacuation of Americans from Lebanon. It is working with airlines to add flights out of Lebanon, with more seats for Americans, the State Department said on Tuesday.

(Read more about this Reuters report)

Smoke rises following an explosion over Beirut's southern suburbs after a strike, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Sin El Fil, Lebanon, October 3, 2024. (REUTERS)

In its war with Gaza based Hamas militant group which is bound to get one year old, the Israeli military has targeted and destroyed residential buildings situated northwest of Nuseirat camp.

Al Jazeera in its report had earlier reported that the military has been striking the western part of Nuseirat refugee camp on an hourly basis.

The Israel-Gaza war began on October 7 last year when Hamas militants attacked Israel and killed at least 1,200 people and took close to 250 people hostage. In retaliation, Israel has eliminated over 40,000 Palestinian and the war is still ongoing.

The United Nations Security Council has expressed its full support for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and stated that it backs him as the UN chief was barred from entering Israel by the country’s foreign minister.

The 15-member council of the United Nations said in a statement that “any decision not to engage with the U.N. Secretary-General or the United Nations is counterproductive, especially in the context of escalating tensions in the Middle East.”

Though the statement did not name Israel directly, but such statements are unanimously agreed upon by a consensus, reported news agency Reuters.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov held a meeting with the Israeli envoy to Moscow Simona Halperin on Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry said Bogdanov and Halperin discussed the situation in the Middle East, including Gaza and Lebanon, but provided no details.

(Reuters)

The Israeli military has issued an urgent warning to the residents of a building in Hadath neighborhood of southern Beirut and the next building which is adjacent to it.

The Israeli army’s spokesperson posted about the warning on X and said, “You are located near Hezbollah facilities and interests, against which the [Israeli army] will operate in the near future.”

Israel has launched its ground incursion operation in Lebanon against the Iran backed Hezbollah militant group and its infrastructure and affiliates.

According to reports by Lebanon’s health ministry, in the last 24 hours, the Israeli airstrike has killed at least 37 people and wounded 151 others.

The fear of an imminent escalation of hostilities in the Middle East has risen as Iran earlier launched barrage of missiles on Israel and Israel launched its ground incursion operation in Lebanon to target Hezbollah militant group.

In a fresh round of airstrike by Israel’s defense forces against Hezbollah militant group, at least one strike hit near Beirut's international airport, according to a report by Al Jazeera.

A source in Lebanon's Ministry of Public Works and Transport told the Reuters news agency that the strike hit outside the perimeter of the international airport.

In a recent spate of attack on Lebanon based Hezbollah militant group, the Israeli forces have targeted the group’s media office and intelligence headquarters.

AFP news agency, quoting National News Agency reported that “Enemy aircraft launched three strikes on (Beirut’s) southern suburbs.”

The reports further suggested that the Israeli strikes targeted a building which housed Hezbollah’s media office but it was evacuated earlier.

The Israeli military has instructed Lebanese civilians in the vicinity of two buildings in Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut, to evacuate immediately in preparation for airstrikes.

Avichay Adraee, the spokesperson for the Israeli military, shared maps with the announcement, cautioning civilians to keep at least 500 metres away from the targeted sites.

Group of Seven (G7) leaders expressed their profound concern over the escalating crisis in the Middle East on Thursday, urging regional actors to "act responsibly" and exercise restraint while reaffirming their support for Israel's security.

"We, the Leaders of the G7, express deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the Middle East... We unequivocally reiterate our commitment to the security of Israel," stated a G7 communiqué released by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office.

The statement warned that a dangerous cycle of attacks and retaliation could lead to uncontrollable escalation in the region, which would serve no one’s interests. Therefore, the G7 leaders called on all regional players to act responsibly and with restraint. The G7 includes Britain, the United States, Canada, Italy, France, Germany, and Japan.

The Pentagon stated on Thursday that it is in discussions with Israeli officials regarding their potential response to Iran's missile attack earlier this week, although it refrained from providing further details on the talks.

"We are certainly talking to them about their response, but I won’t speculate further on what that response might be. However, we continue to engage with them," said Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it "precisely struck several weapons production sites" and Hezbollah infrastructure locations in Beirut on Thursday.

The Israeli Air Force also targeted "Hezbollah intelligence sites in Beirut," including facilities used by intelligence operatives and command centres, as stated by the IDF.

"In advance of the strike, various measures were implemented to minimise the risk of civilian harm, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance," the statement added.

A Yazidi woman, kidnapped at the age of 11 by the Islamic State group in Iraq and later taken to Gaza, has been rescued after over a decade in captivity, according to officials from Israel, the US, and Iraq.

The Yazidis are a religious minority primarily residing in Iraq and Syria. In 2014, the Islamic State group attacked the Yazidi community in Sinjar, resulting in the massacre of thousands of men and the enslavement of women and girls.

The Israeli military reported that the now 21-year-old woman's captor in Gaza had been killed during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas, likely due to an airstrike. Following this, the woman, identified as Fawzia Amin Sido, managed to flee to another location within Gaza.

Iran has issued a stern warning that it will consider Israeli infrastructure, as well as any nation that supports such an attack, as legitimate targets.

In a statement released by Iran's mission to the UN in New York, Iran declared:

"Should any country render assistance to the aggressor, it shall likewise be deemed an accomplice and a legitimate target. We advise countries to refrain from entangling themselves in the conflict between the Israeli regime and Iran and to distance themselves from the fray."

Iran further emphasised that no messages will be sent to "aggressors" except via Swiss diplomats, the designated channel for communicating with the US. This followed claims that Iran had been using Qatar as an intermediary with the US.

The Israeli military announced it intercepted a drone in the south of the country, with no injuries reported.

"A short time ago, the Air Force intercepted an unmanned aircraft in the south of the country. There are no casualties," the Israeli Air Force (IAF) said on X.

The World Health Organization (WHO) chief said on Thursday that 28 healthcare workers had been killed over the past 24 hours in Lebanon, where Israel has launched airstrikes and sent troops to fight Hezbollah in an escalating conflict.

"Many (other) health workers are not reporting to duty and fled the areas where they work due to bombardments," Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told an online press briefing. "This is severely limiting the provision of mass trauma management and continuity of health services," he said, as quoted by Reuters.

The global health agency will not be able to deliver a large planned shipment of trauma and medical supplies to the country on Friday due to flight restrictions, he added

Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group said on Thursday it targeted Israel's "Sakhnin base" for military industries in Haifa Bay with a salvo of rockets, news agency Reuters reported.

Ministers from Gulf Arab states and Iran attending a meeting on Thursday of Asian nations hosted by Qatar have discussed de-escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran, news agency Reuters reported, quoting sources.

The Gulf Arab states sought to reassure Iran of their neutrality in the conflict on the back of concerns that a wider escalation in violence could threaten Gulf oil facilities.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) announced that one of its strikes in was aimed at “targets belonging to Hezbollah’s Intelligence Headquarters in Beirut, including terror operatives belonging to the unit.”

"Air Force fighter jets under the intelligence direction of the Intelligence Division, attacked targets of the intelligence headquarters of the terrorist organization Hezbollah in Beirut, including the unit's operatives, collection means, headquarters, and other infrastructure," IAF said on X.

As the conflict in West Asia enters a new and unstable phase, with Iran launching a barrage of missiles on Israel overnight, both global and Indian traders are bracing for a prolonged disruption in trade, as the vital Red Sea shipping route may remain inaccessible to global shipping lines for a much longer duration than previously anticipated, potentially keeping freight rates uncomfortably high.

A major escalation of the year-long conflict in West Asia has emerged after Israel, having seemingly concluded its military operation against Hamas in Gaza, shifted its focus to the larger and more powerful Iranian proxy, Hezbollah, by launching a military operation in Lebanon. This followed dramatic explosions involving pagers and walkie-talkies targeting Hezbollah members, as well as the assassination of its long-time leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

The widening of the conflict has increased the risk of trade disruptions, as Hezbollah shares close ties with the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are responsible for the majority of the attacks on ships traversing the Red Sea route. The escalation of conflict comes after Indian exporters began feeling the impact of the Red Sea shipping route crisis, with exports in August falling by as much as 9 per cent.

Read Ravi Dutta Mishra's report here

Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, has cancelled all Iraq, Iran, and Jordan flights for three days over "regional unrest."

"Emirates is cancelling all regular flights to/from Iraq (Basra and Baghdad), Iran (Tehran), and Jordan (Amman) on 4th and 5th October due to regional unrest," the airline said in a statement. The Dubai-based airlines also halted services to the destinations on Thursday.

Last week, the Emirates had announced cancellations between Dubai and Beirut until at least October 8.

Lebanon's transport minister Ali Hamieh said on Thursday that all border crossings were under government monitoring after Israel accused Hezbollah of smuggling weapons from Syria through the Masnaa border crossing.

Iran views the Group of Seven (G7) condemnation of its attack on Israel as "biased and irresponsible," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement on Thursday.

Iran launched more than 180 missiles at Israel on Tuesday in what it said was retaliation for the killings of militant leaders and aggression in Gaza and Lebanon.

In a statement on Wednesday, the G7 leaders condemned Tehran's attack, expressing "strong concern" over the crisis in the Middle East, adding that a diplomatic solution was still viable and a region-wide conflict was in no one's interest.

(With inputs from Reuters)

The Lebanese army said on Thursday that another soldier was killed in an Israeli strike on a military post in Bint Jbeil area of southern Lebanon, adding that soldiers fired back at the sources of the fire.

It is the first time the army has fired back at Israeli forces since the conflict began a year ago, Reuters reported, quoting sources.

Earlier, one soldier was killed and another injured in an Israeli strike while carrying out an evacuation and rescue operation with the Lebanese Red Cross in the Taybeh, a border village in the south.

A total of 1,974 people have been killed, including 127 children, and 9,384 injured since the start of the Israeli attacks on Lebanon over the last year, the country's health minister Firass Abiad said on Thursday, news agency Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, in the Gaza Strip, Israel's military has killed at least 41,788 Palestinians and wounded 96,794 since October 7, the Palestinian enclave's health ministry said on Thursday, news agency Reuters reported.

Israeli Air Force (IAF) confirmed ongoing attacks in the central Gaza Strip in an X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.

"In the last three months, over 450 terrorists were eliminated in airstrikes directed by the forces of the 252nd Division, and in face-to-face encounters. In addition, hundreds of terrorist infrastructures were destroyed in the area," the IAF said.

In a statement, Lebanon's Hezbollah announced it detonated a bomb against an Israeli force infiltrating Maroun al-Ras in southern Lebanon

Russia has started evacuating its citizens from Lebanon, with a special flight departing Beirut on Thursday carrying the families of Russian diplomats.

About 60 people will arrive in Russia from Lebanon on Thursday, Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov’s ministry said.

"The evacuation is carried out on the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin," the ministry said, as quoted by the news agency Reuters.

The Lebanese army said on Thursday that one soldier was killed and another injured in an Israeli strike while carrying out an evacuation and rescue operation with the Lebanese Red Cross in the Taybeh, a border village in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on Thursday issued a warning to residents of over 20 more towns, in southern Lebanon to evacuate their homes immediately, including the city of Nabitieh, one of the largest cities in the south. "Evacuate your homes immediately. Be careful, you must not go south," an Israeli military spokesperson said in an X post.

The Israeli military had previously ordered 52 other villages inside Lebanon to evacuate, according to a report by The Guardian.

A view shows the runway of Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport as smoke rises over Beirut's southern suburbs after a strike. (Reuters)

A woman walks past damaged buildings and debris in the aftermath of a strike, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Beirut’s southern suburbs. (Reuters)

Smoke billows from Israeli bombardment, as seen from Tyre, southern Lebanon. (Reuters)

A drone view shows people standing around the apparent remains of a ballistic missile lying in the desert, following an attack by Iran on Israel, near the southern city of Arad, Israel. (Reuters)

The Israeli military said on Thursday it had "eliminated" Rawhi Mushtaha, the head of the Hamas government in Gaza, along with senior security officials Sameh al-Siraj and Sami Oudeh in strikes three months ago, reports Reuters.

Israel’s military has announced that in a strike “approximately three months ago” it killed three senior Hamas leaders, reports The Guardian.

Rawhi Mushtaha, the head of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip, Sameh al-Siraj, who held the security portfolio on Hamas’ political bureau and Hamas’ labor committee, and Sami Oudeh, commander of Hamas’ general security mechanism were killed three months ago, as per Israel.

Israeli military has said that it's struck a municipality building in Southern Lebanon's Bint Jbeil, killing at least fifteen Hezbollah members, reports Reuters.

After a halt in flight operations, flights in Iran have resumed on Thursday, says state media.

"Another sleepless night in Beirut. Counting the blasts shaking the city. No warning sirens. Not knowing what's next. Only that uncertainty lies ahead. Anxiety and fear are omnipresent," UN special coordinator in Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, posted on X on Thursday.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced on Wednesday that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is banned from entering the country. This decision follows Guterres’s failure to unequivocally condemn Iran’s recent missile attack on Israel.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned Israel of a strong reaction if there’s any further escalation by the latter against it and has sought to rally Asian countries behind Tehran’s back as Pezeshkian visited Qatar on Wednesday.

Pezeshkian arrived in Qatar a day after Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles on Israel and Israel also stepped up its rally of attack at Iran backed Lebanon based Hezbollah militant groups infrastructure.

On Wednesday, Biden joined a call with other leaders of the Group of Seven major powers to coordinate a response against the Iran's use of ballistic missiles against Israel, including new sanctions against Tehran, the White House said.

G7 leaders voiced "strong concern" over the Middle East crisis but said a diplomatic solution was still viable and a region-wide conflict was in no one's interest, a statement said.

Israeli forces on Monday (September 30) launched a “limited localised” ground offensive into Lebanon to target Hezbollah. The incursion marks the fourth time that Israeli soldiers have publicly entered Lebanese soil in nearly 50 years. It is also the first since Israel’s 34-day war in the country in 2006.

Read more to know what happened during the 2006 war.

The Israel Defense Forces have urged residents of Lebanese villages who have evacuated their homes not to return until further notice. "IDF raids are continuing," spokesperson Adraee said on X on Thursday.

Lebanon’s foreign minister has claimed that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had agreed to a 21-day ceasefire pushed by the US and France just days before he was killed by an Israeli airstrike.

“He agreed, he agreed,” Abdallah Bou Habib told Christiane Amanpour in an interview on a CNN broadcast. He added, "We agreed completely... And they told us that Mr Netanyahu also agreed on the statement that was issued by both presidents (Biden and Macron). "

Britain is urging nationals to leave Lebanon immediately, reports Reuters.

It has moved around 700 troops to Cyprus, bolstering its military assets, including two Royal Navy ships. On Wednesday, the UK chartered a flight to evacuate its nationals, and additional charter flights are to follow, diplomatic sources said, as per the report.

The Indian stock market plunged in early trade on Thursday with the Sensex dipping by 1,264.2 points to 83,456. The Nifty 50 index was also down 0.97% at 25,548.4 points. Twelve of the 13 major sectoral indexes declined at the open, with realty and auto stocks leading the losses. The decline in the benchmarks are in-line with Asian peers, which dropped 1.5% on the day.

US President Joe Biden announced earlier that he does not support an Israeli strike on Tehran’s nuclear sites in response to Iran’s missile attack on Israel.

When asked if he would back such a move, Biden firmly replied, “The answer is no.”

Following Iran’s launch of nearly 200 ballistic missiles, Israel’s UN diplomat warned that the country’s retaliation would be heavier than Tehran “could ever have imagined.”

The French Embassy in Iran has asked all its nationals to be wary of the developments in the Middle East and asked them to be careful in their travels to Iran, reports ANI.

Reuters is sharing a forecast of the Beirut skyline, where smoke is seen rising from buildings.

As per Lebanese health officials, at least 46 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on the city in the previous 24 hours, says The Guardian.

Australia is arranging evacuation flights from crisis-stricken Lebanon. Australian foreign minister Penny Wong has said her government has booked 500 seats on commercial aircraft for Australian citizens, permanent residents and their families to leave the coutry, reports The Guardian.

"Unfortunately, no leader, country or group of powers can nudge, influence and accomplish a ceasefire. Even countries that are at the forefront of anti-Israeli rhetoric are aware of the role of Hezbollah in bringing down the Lebanese state and its social cohesion. While the Iranian leadership has avoided the temptations of avenging Haniyeh’s assassination, Hezbollah is an easier option for the clergy to keep the tension boiling. Continuing tensions along the Gaza and Lebanon borders also provide a breather to Netanyahu to forestall any leadership challenge both within and outside the Likud," writes PR Kumaraswamy.

The widening of the conflict has increased the risk of trade disruptions, as Hezbollah shares close ties with the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are responsible for the majority of the attacks on ships traversing the Red Sea route.

This assumes significance for India as it relies heavily on this route through the Suez Canal for its trade with Europe, the US, Africa, and West Asia, as these regions accounted for over $400 billion in FY23, according to Crisil Ratings. Read more

China called on the United Nations Security Council to take "urgent actions" to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East, after Israel launched fresh air strikes on Lebanon. China's permanent representative, Fu Cong, said that the UN needed to make clear and unequivocal demands to stop the cycle of violence over the Israeli-Lebanon conflict, reported Reuters.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had warned Hezbollah leader Syyed Hassan Nasrallah to flee Lebanon days before he was killed in an Israeli strike, three Iranian sources have told news agency Reuters. In the immediate aftermath of the attack on Hezbollah's booby-trapped pagers on Sept. 17, Khamenei sent a message with an envoy to beseech the Hezbollah secretary general to leave for Iran, citing intelligence reports that suggested Israel had operatives within Hezbollah and was planning to kill him, one of the sources, a senior Iranian official, told Reuters.

The Israeli and Iranian ambassadors to the United Nations were embroiled in a war of words on Wednesday. As the Israel’s UN ambassador said that the “the time for empty calls for de-escalation is over”, Iran defended its launch of a barrage of missiles at Israel, saying it was necessary to “restore balance” in the region.

Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon told the UN Security Council that “Iran’s true face is one of terror, death and chaos.” “This is no longer a matter of words,” he said. “Iran is a very real and present danger to the world, and if they are not stopped, the next wave of missiles will not be aimed solely at Israel,” he said.

Meanwhile, Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said that the missile attack was “a necessary and proportionate response to Israel’s continued terrorist aggressive acts over the past two months.”

In case you’re tuning in right now, here’s a breakdown of where things stand now:

📌 Situation on the ground: Multiple blasts have rocked Lebanon since Wednesday night, with one in Beirut killing at least six people. Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters have also engaged in fighting on the ground in southern Lebanon, both have confirmed.

Lebanon’s military said Wednesday an Israeli military force breached the border, reaching 400 meters into Lebanese territory before withdrawing. The IDF has sent evacuation orders to 51 villages in southern Lebanon, instructing residents to move north. The IDF also announced the death of eight Israeli soldiers who were killed in combat in Lebanon on Wednesday.

📌 What has been Israel’s take on the situation: Israel has barred United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres from entering the country. Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,000 people in Lebanon over the past two weeks. Reacting to the missile barrage from Iran, Israeli military chief said. “We have the capability to reach and strike every location in the Middle East and those of our enemies who have not yet understood this, will understand this soon.”

📌 What Hezbollah has said: Following Iran’s missile attacks against Israel, Hezbollah spokesperson Mohammad Afif made his first public remarks on the developments. “For all those who doubted Iran’s stance after the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh until recent weeks have been smacked in the mouth by a big rock,” Afif said.

Hezbollah has claimed over two dozen attacks on Wednesday that mostly targeted Israeli troops amassing at the border in preparation for an invasion of south Lebanon.

📌 What Iran has said: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said while Iran does not seek war, it will deliver a “stronger response” if Israel retaliates. “We were left with no choice but to respond. If Israel wants to react, we will have a stronger response,” Pezeshkian said. Countries that helped block missiles targeting Israel will “be held responsible,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday.

The Iranian envoy to the UN also defended the missile attack, saying it was a “necessary and proportionate response” to Israel’s “aggressive acts” in the Middle East.

An American from Dearborn, Michigan, was killed in Lebanon in an Israeli airstrike, according to the man’s daughter quoted by news agency Reuters.

Democratic US Representative Rashida Tlaib's office said on Wednesday it was in touch with Kamel Ahmad Jawad's family, adding he was the Palestinian American congresswoman's constituent and a US citizen. His daughter, Nadine Jawad, said in a statement that her father was killed in an Israeli strike in Lebanon on Tuesday "while trying to save innocent lives." She added that in his final days, her father chose to stay near a hospital to help the elderly and the disabled.

After a day in which Israeli and Hezbollah troops clashed at close range in southern Lebanon, Israel bombed central Beirut in the early hours of Thursday, killing at least six people. Three missiles also hit the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, where Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed last week, and loud explosions were heard, Lebanese security officials said.

Israel has been fighting wars on multiple fronts — Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen — for months now and the recent strikes have only pushed the region towards escalation. The latest actions on multiple fronts have raised fears of a wider conflict that could draw in Iran as well as the United States, which has rushed military assets to the region in support of Israel. Follow our Live Blog for latest news and updates from the region.

Smoke rises over Beirut's southern suburbs after a strike, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Sin El Fil, Lebanon, October 3, 2024. (REUTERS)

The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has told the UN Security Council that the raging fires in the Middle East are fast becoming an inferno.

UN chief Guterres further stated that the organization's peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, will remain in position in Lebanon despite a request by the Israeli administration to relocate the multinational peacekeeping force.

Guterres further said that the safety and security of the UN peacekeeping force must be adhered to and ensured in the grand scheme of works.

Guterres said that an all out war between Israel and Lebanon based Hezbollah militant group must be avoided and a ceasefire is required at the earliest.

US President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that he does not support an Israeli strike on Tehran’s nuclear sites in response to Iran’s missile attack on Israel. When asked if he would back such a move, Biden firmly replied, “The answer is no.” This comes after Iran fired about 200 missiles at Israel on Tuesday.

Biden’s stance follows discussions with leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the UK—regarding new sanctions on Iran.

Following Iran’s launch of nearly 200 ballistic missiles, Israel’s UN diplomat warned that the country’s retaliation would be heavier than Tehran “could ever have imagined.” Israeli chief of staff Lt Gen Herzi Halevi added that Israel can strike anywhere in the Middle East, a capability its enemies would soon understand.

The US and its allies are working to prevent the Middle East conflict, ignited by Iran-backed Hamas militants’ attack on Israel on October 7, from escalating further. They have called for Israel to exercise caution in its response to Iran.

(Read more from this report)

Hezbollah militant group’s chief Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israeli military last week, had agreed to a ceasefire before he was assassinated, said Lebanon’s foreign minister Abdallah Bou Habib, according to the Anadolu news agency.

“He agreed. Yes, the Lebanese side agreed. We consulted with Hezbollah, [Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih] Berri consulted with Hezbollah, and we informed US and French representatives,” Minister Bou Habib said.

The United States and France led 12 countries had called for a temporary ceasefire of 21 days for the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in order to facilitate diplomatic efforts. But Hezbollah leader Nasarallah was killed in Israeli airstrikes on September 27.

In the latest attack by Israel's military, two people have died in central Beirut after Israel Defense Forces conducted a precision strike.

According to Lebanon's health ministry, 11 people have been wounded in the latest round of attacks by Israel which is conducting a ground operation Lebanon against the Iran backed Hezbollah militant group.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned Israel of a strong reaction if there’s any further escalation by the latter against it and has sought to rally Asian countries behind Tehran’s back as Pezeshkian visited Qatar on Wednesday.

Pezeshkian arrived in Qatar a day after Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles on Israel and Israel also stepped up its rally of attack at Iran backed Lebanon based Hezbollah militant groups infrastructure.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that his country will strike back at Iran after it bombarded over 200 missiles at Tel Aviv. “Iran made a big mistake tonight and will pay for it, whoever attacks us, we will attack them,” PM Netanyahu said hours after the attack.

According to news agency Reuters, Iranian state media reported that as President Pezeshkian left for the trip to Qatar, he said “If the Zionist regime (Israel) does not stop its crimes, it will face harsher reactions.”

(Read more from this report)

Israeli military conducted a precise strike in Lebanon's Beirut, it said in a statement late on Wednesday. The Israel Defense Forces did not elaborate about the strike.

However, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that a strike by Israel was reported in the southern suburbs of the country, where Tel Aviv had earlier hit.

According to the health ministry of Lebanon, 46 people have been killed and 85 have been wounded in the latest Israeli strikes in the country in the past 24 hours, a statement said on Thursday.

Israel launched its ground inclusion operation in southern Lebanon to target Iran backed Hezbollah militant group and its infrastructure in the region.

The fear of escalation of hostilities in the Middle East has reached apex as Israel launched its ground operation in Lebanon and Iran attacked Israel with a salvo of over 200 ballistic missiles on tuesday. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to avenge the attack.

The son-in-law of Lebanon based Hezbollah militant group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by the Israeli military in an airstrike last week, was also killed by the Israeli forces in a raid in Damascus on Wednesday, an NGO has claimed.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, “Hassan Jaafar al-Qasir, the son-in-law of Hassan Nasrallah, was among two Lebanese victims of the Israeli raid which targeted an apartment in a residential building in the Mazze district of Damascus,” according to news agency AFP.

Hassan Nasrallah was killed by Israel, in a precision strike in Beirut and the spillover effect of his killing has led to an escalation of tensions in the Middle East as Iran attacked Israel with over 200 ballistic missiles in a retaliatory fire on Tuesday.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for an end to the “sickening cycle of escalation” in the Middle East and also condemned the latest ballistic missile attack by Iran on Israel.

The secretary general was speaking at the emergency meeting called in by the United Nations Security Council, after Iran launched its salvo of over 200 missiles on Israel in a retaliatory attack against Israel’s recent escalated aggression in the Middle East.

“It is high time to stop the sickening cycle of escalation after escalation that is leading the people of the Middle East straight over the cliff,” UN chief Antonio Guterres said.

The Defence Minister of the Labour Party’s government in the UK, John Healey, spoke to Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant about the recent barrage of missile attacks by Iran and condemned it.

Healey, in a post on X, said, “I spoke to Yoav Gallant today to express our total condemnation of Iran’s massive missile attack against Israel. I set out the UK’s continuing, steadfast commitment to Israel’s security. We must avoid further escalation and secure an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza.”

Iran launched more than 200 ballistic missiles on Israel on Tuesday in a retaliatory attack after Israel killed Iran backed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Lebanon based Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, personally ordered the launch of about 200 missiles at Israel on Tuesday, according to a senior Iranian official who spoke to Reuters. This missile attack was a response to the deaths of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Abbas Nilforoushan.

Sources reported that the assassination of Nasrallah, coupled with weeks of Israeli strikes that have targeted weapons sites and significantly weakened Hezbollah’s leadership, has raised concerns within Iran about the safety of Khamenei and eroded trust between Hezbollah and the Iranian establishment.

As a result, Iran’s anti-Israel Axis of Resistance alliance may face challenges in functioning effectively. The ongoing infiltration by Israeli operatives complicates Hezbollah's efforts to select a new leader, as there are fears for the successor’s safety, according to Lebanese sources.

The mistrust stemming from Nasrallah’s assassination has deeply affected relations between Tehran and Hezbollah. An Iranian official noted, “The trust that held everything together has disappeared.” Since the attacks, Khamenei has been residing in a secure location in Iran and “no longer trusts anyone,” a source close to the Iranian establishment revealed.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reportedly warned Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah to flee Lebanon just days before he was killed in an Israeli strike last week.

Following the attack on 17 September that targeted communication devices used by Hezbollah members, Khamenei sent an envoy to urge Nasrallah to leave Lebanon for Iran, according to a senior Iranian official who spoke to Reuters.

The message from Khamenei cited intelligence indicating that Israel had operatives within Hezbollah and was planning to assassinate Nasrallah, the source revealed.

The envoy was Brig Gen Abbas Nilforoushan, a senior commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, who was with Nasrallah in his bunker when it was struck by Israeli bombs and also lost his life in the attack.

Israel's security cabinet, convened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, has agreed to respond decisively to Iran's missile attack on Tuesday, according to Israeli media reports.

A photo released by the prime minister’s office showed Netanyahu in a meeting with key officials, including Shin Bet director Ronen Bar, Mossad chief David Barnea, Israel’s chief of staff Maj Gen Herzi Halevi, and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

The US State Department arranged a flight from Beirut to Istanbul on Wednesday to help Americans leave Lebanon.

Approximately 7,000 US citizens in Lebanon had registered with the US government for updates on departure options, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

The Wednesday flight, with a capacity of around 300 passengers, carried about 100 Americans and their family members, Miller said during a briefing.

He added that the US plans to organise additional flights in the coming days. (REUTERS)

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, has called on the UN Security Council to condemn Iran’s “unprovoked” missile attack on Israel and enforce “serious consequences.” Speaking to the council on Wednesday, Thomas-Greenfield described the attack as a “significant escalation” of tensions in the Middle East. She stated:

“Let me be clear: The Iranian regime will be held responsible for its actions. And we strongly warn against Iran – or its proxies – taking actions against the United States, or further actions against Israel.”

She reaffirmed US support for Israel and held Iran’s backing of its proxies responsible for exacerbating the crises in Gaza and Lebanon.

Joe Biden, the US president, has stated that he does not support an attack on Iran's nuclear sites, following Israel's vow to respond to Iran's missile attack on Tuesday.

When asked if he supported such an attack, Biden simply responded, "The answer is no."

He added, "We’ll be discussing with the Israelis what they’re going to do, but all seven of us [G7 nations] agree they have the right to respond, though it should be proportional."

Biden also mentioned that further sanctions on Iran would be imposed and said he planned to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "relatively soon."

Hamas' armed al-Qassam Brigades claimed responsibility for a shooting in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv that killed at least eight soldiers of the Israel Defence Forces, the group said in a statement on Wednesday, news agency Reuters reported.

Israel will respond to Iran's missile attack and its forces can strike anywhere in the Middle East, its military chief said on Wednesday.

In an X post by the Israeli Air Force, Major General Herzi Halevi, the Chief of Staff at the Tel Nof base, said, "We have the ability to reach and attack any point in the Middle East. And any of our enemies who have not understood this until now, will understand it soon."

Israel carried out a strike targeting a residential building in the Mezzah suburb area in the western part of the Syrian capital Damascus resulting in injuries, Syrian state media reported on Wednesday, as quoted by Reuters.

US President Joe Biden will join a call with Group of Seven (G7) leaders on Wednesday to discuss the crisis in the Middle East, a US official said.

"The president is going to join a call this morning with G7 counterparts to discuss the Middle East following Iran's attacks on Israel yesterday," the official said, as quoted by news agency Reuters.

The Israeli military has confirmed the deaths of seven soldiers during the latest combat operations in southern Lebanon on Wednesday.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will host a Group of Seven (G7) leaders' call on Wednesday to discuss the Middle East crisis. She expressed "deep concern" to her cabinet about the latest developments, including Iran's missile attack against Israel and increasing instability in Lebanon.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday condemned Iran's missile attack on Israel, telling the Security Council the "deadly cycle of tit-for-tat violence must stop," news agency Reuters reported.

"Time is running out," he told the council.

The 15-member council met after Israel killed the leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah and began a ground assault against the Iran-backed militant group and Iran attacked Israel in a strike that raised fears of a wider war in the Middle East.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Britain’s Ministry of Defence on Wednesday said that two of its fighter jets and an air-to-air refueling tanker played a part on October 1 in attempts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East conflict, though the jets did not engage any targets.

"Two Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets and a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker played their part in attempts in attempts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East, demonstrating the UK's unwavering commitment to Israel's security," Britain's Ministry of Defence said on X.

"Due to the nature of this attack, they did not engage any targets, but they played an important part in wider deterrence and efforts to prevent further escalation," the post said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with security leaders at Kirya in Tel Aviv, according to a statement from his office on Wednesday.

(Photo: X/ @IsraeliPM)

Two blasts near the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen on Wednesday were likely caused by hand grenades, a Danish police spokesperson told a press conference, news agency Reuters reported.

Earlier, they had detained three people for questioning for the blasts which took place early morning. There were no injuries in the explosions, which happened at around 3:20 a.m. local time, and no damage to the building itself, the Israeli embassy said in a statement.

According to an X post by the Danish police, two people were apprehended on a train at Copenhagen's main railway station while the third person was detained elsewhere in the Danish capital.

(With inputs from Reuters)

A Lebanese soldier was injured on Wednesday in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese army.

The soldier was hurt as a Lebanese army unit worked to open a road at the entrance to the southern Lebanese town of Kawkaba, the army said, news agency Reuters reported.

The Israeli military reported its first combat death since it launched ground operations in southern Lebanon, confirming that an army team commander was killed on Wednesday.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), in a statement, said Captain Eitan Yitzhak Oster, 22, who was killed inside Lebanon, was a team commander in the Egoz unit, an elite commando unit specialising in guerrilla warfare, according to a BBC report.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that Israel would face a harsh reaction if it did not stop what he called "its crimes."

He was speaking a day after Iran fired waves of ballistic missiles at Israel, and Israel stepped up its war with Tehran's proxy Hezbollah by sending troops over the border into Lebanon. "If the Zionist regime (Israel) does not stop its crimes, it will face harsher reactions," Pezeshkian said as he left for a scheduled trip to Qatar, news agency Reuters reported, quoting state media.

Moving away from southern Lebanon, Palestinian medical officials said on Wednesday that at least 51 people, including women and children, were killed and 82 people were injured in southern Gaza overnight in Israeli strikes, as the military launched ground operations in the heavily affected city of Khan Younis.

Israel has continued to strike what it says are militant targets across Gaza nearly a year after Hamas’ October 7 attack ignited the war there, and even as attention has shifted to Lebanon and Iran.

(With inputs from AP)

The head of Hezbollah's media office, Mohammad Afif said they are "only in the first round" following clashes with Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, asserting that the group has sufficient fighters, weapons, and ammunition to counter Israel.

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Wednesday that the root of the Israel-Iran conflict and the Middle East crisis lies in the presence of the US and certain European countries that "claim to advocate for peace in the region."

In an X post, Khameini said, "If the villainy of the US and certain European countries is removed from this region, undoubtedly these conflicts and wars will be completely eliminated. Then the countries in the region can live together in peace, health, and prosperity."

He added, "The root of the problem in our region, these conflicts and wars, is the presence of those who claim to advocate peace in the region. That is, the United States and some European countries."

Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that he was barring UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country for his failure to "unequivocally condemn" Iran's massive missile attack on Israel on Tuesday, news agency Reuters reported.

Hezbollah said that it is clashing with Israeli forces in the border town of Maroun El Ras, located about 1 km from Israel.

On Wednesday, the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for residents of 24 villages in southern Lebanon.

This alert follows the initiation of "limited ground operations" near the border aimed at combating the Hezbollah militant group.

The affected villages are located within a UN-declared buffer zone established after the last war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.

In its first reaction to fresh escalation of tensions in West Asia, India on Wednesday called for restraint by all sides and said the conflict must not take a wider regional dimension.

"We are deeply concerned at the escalation of the security situation in West Asia and reiterate our call for restraint by all concerned and protection of civilians," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

"It is important that the conflict doesn't take a wider regional dimension and we urge that all issues be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy," it said in a statement

At a time when the conflict between Israel and Iran escalated following Tehran firing a barrage of missiles at Tel Aviv, Indians in the region have been asked to stay “vigilant” and “in touch with the embassy”. The Ministry of External Affairs Wednesday put out an advisory asking “Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to Iran”.

“Those currently residing in Iran are requested to remain vigilant and stay in contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran,” the statement added.

The Houthis in Yemen declared that they would not hesitate to expand their operations against Israel. They asserted that the ongoing support from the U.S. and UK for Israel puts their interests 'under fire'. In their statement, they also claimed to have targeted military posts deep within Israel using "Quds 5" rockets.

AIR ALGERIE

The Algerian airline suspended flights to and from Lebanon until further notice.

AIR INDIA

The Indian flag carrier suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice.

CATHAY PACIFIC

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv until March 27, 2025.

DELTA AIR LINES

The U.S. carrier paused flights between New York and Tel Aviv through Dec. 31.

EMIRATES

UAE's state-owned airline cancelled flights between Dubai and Beirut until Oct. 8.

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways said it was re-routing a number of its flights on Oct. 2 in response to airspace restrictions in parts of the Middle East.

FLYDUBAI

The Emirati airline on Sept. 30 cancelled Dubai-Beirut flights until Oct. 7. It also cancelled flights to Jordan, Iraq, Israel and Iran on Oct. 2-3 due to the temporary closure of a number of air spaces.

IRAN AIR

The Iranian airline cancelled all flights to Beirut until further notice, a company spokesman told local media on Sept. 28.

IRAQI AIRWAYS

The Iraqi national carrier suspended flights to and from Beirut until further notice, Iraq's transportation ministry said on Sept. 27.

QATAR AIRWAYS

The Qatari airline temporarily suspended flights to and from Beirut until further notice.

UNITED AIRLINES

The Chicago-based airline suspended flights to Tel Aviv for the foreseeable future due to security reasons.

Concerns over a wider conflict in the Middle East have prompted international airlines to suspend flights to the region or to avoid affected air space.

Below are some of the European airlines that have adjusted services to and from the region-

AEGEAN AIRLINES

The Greek airline cancelled flights to and from Beirut until Oct. 31 and to and from Tel Aviv until Oct. 6.

AIR EUROPA

The Spanish airline cancelled flights to Tel Aviv until Oct. 2.

AIR FRANCE-KLM

Air France on Sept. 30 suspended Paris-Tel Aviv and Paris-Beirut flights until Oct. 8.

KLM has suspended all flights to Tel Aviv until the end of this year at least, the carrier said on Oct. 1. It had previously cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv until Oct. 26. The Franco-Dutch group's low-cost unit Transavia cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv until March 31, 2025, and flights to Amman and Beirut until Nov. 3.

BULGARIA AIR

The Bulgarian carrier cancelled flights to and from Israel until Oct. 15.

EASYJET

The UK budget airline stopped flying to and from Tel Aviv in April and will resume flights on March 30, 2025, a spokesperson said.

IAG

IAG-owned British Airways cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv through Oct. 7, the airline said in an e-mailed comment.

Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling cancelled operations to Tel Aviv until Jan. 12, 2025, while flights to Amman were cancelled until further notice.

ITA AIRWAYS

Italy's ITA Airways extended the suspension of Tel Aviv flights through Oct. 31.

LOT

The Polish flag carrier suspended flights to Lebanon until further notice, it said in an emailed comment on Sept. 20.

LUFTHANSA GROUP

The German airline group suspended flights to Tel Aviv until Oct. 31 while flights to Tehran have been suspended until Oct. 26 (inclusive). Flights to Beirut will be suspended until Nov. 30.

It said it will avoid Iranian, Iraqi and Jordanian airspace up to and including Oct. 2 amid an escalation of an armed conflict in the Middle East, suspending flights to and from Amman and Erbil.

SunExpress, a joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, suspended flights to Beirut through Dec. 17.

PEGASUS

The Turkish airline cancelled flights to Beirut until Oct. 7, a company spokesperson said.

RYANAIR

Europe's biggest budget airline cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv until Oct. 26, citing "operational restrictions."

SUNDAIR

The German airline cancelled Berlin-Beirut and Bremen-Beirut flights until Oct.

On Wednesday, France announced that it would send more military resources to the Middle East to address the Iranian threat.

It has also called a United Nations Security Council meeting for later today, following Iran's launch of missiles at Israel.

"Committed to Israel's security, France today mobilised its military resources in the Middle East to counter the Iranian threat," the French presidency said in a statement overnight after an emergency security cabinet meeting to discuss the regional escalation.

"The head of state also reiterated France's demand that Hezbollah cease its terrorist actions against Israel and its population."

Last week, Paris and Washington tried to arrange a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon, just hours before Israel launched airstrikes that killed Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

The Israeli military said on Wednesday the 36th Division and additional forces are joining the ground operation in Lebanon.

More than 30 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school and institute that was housing displaced people in Gaza, according to official Palestinian radio Voice of Palestine.

Israel has resumed its bombardment of southern Beirut, targeting strongholds of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

At least a dozen airstrikes have hit the area, causing large plumes of smoke to rise. Israel has also issued new evacuation orders, and the suburbs have largely emptied after days of heavy strikes.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it confronted Israeli forces infiltrating the Lebanese town of Adaisseh early on Wednesday and forced them to retreat.

A reporter at Axious news quoted Israeli officials saying that Israel will launch a "significant retaliation" to Tuesday's massive missile attack by Iran.

"Israeli officials say Israel will launch a "significant retaliation" to Tuesday's massive missile attack within days that could target oil production facilities inside Iran and other strategic sites," he wrote on X.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Iran's new attacks on Israel

He reiterated France's demand that Hezbollah cease its terrorist actions against Israel and its population

Macron also wished for Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity to be reinstated in strict compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions, the French presidency statement said.

According to a Reuters report, Iran said that its missile attack on Israel was over barring further provocation

Iran described the campaign as defensive and solely aimed at Israeli military facilities.

Iran's state news agency said three Israeli military bases had been targeted.

Tehran said its assault was a response to Israeli killings of militant leaders and aggression in Lebanon against Hezbollah and in Gaza.

Iran's General Staff of the Armed Forces said in a statement carried by state media that any Israeli response would be met with "vast destruction" of Israeli infrastructure. It also said it would target regional assets of any Israeli ally that got involved.

At least nine Palestinians were killed and 20 injured in an Israeli air strike on a school and institute housing displaced people in Gaza, Palestine news agency WFA said on Wednesday.

Hezbollah said that it confronted Israeli Defense Force infiltrating the Lebanese town of Adaisseh and forced it to retreat. (Reuters report)

In Washington, US President Joe Biden stated that the United States is ready to help Israel defend itself against Iranian missile attacks.

He ordered the US military to assist the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in neutralising missiles and other airborne attacks from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to the White House National Security Council.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan noted that U.S. military forces in the region helped Israel respond to the attack. He said the Biden administration is consulting with Israel on how to proceed. "This is a significant escalation by Iran, a significant event," Sullivan told reporters at the White House. "We have made clear that there will be consequences, severe consequences, for this attack, and we will work with Israel to make that the case."

On Tuesday, Iran launched a series of ballistic missiles at Israel in response to Israel’s actions against Hezbollah allies in Lebanon.

Israel reported that over 200 missiles were fired from Iran, prompting its air defenses to activate and intercept the attacks.

Israeli officials vowed to impose consequences for the assault. Major General Herzi Halevi stated, “We will choose when to collect the price and demonstrate our precise and surprising attack capabilities, as guided by political leadership.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added, “Iran made a big mistake tonight—and it will pay for it.”

On Tuesday, Iran launched a series of ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for Israel's actions against Hezbollah allies in Lebanon.

Alarms rang out across Israel, and explosions were heard in Jerusalem and the Jordan River valley. While no injuries were reported in Israel, one man was killed in the occupied West Bank, according to local authorities.